Pose (Club Kitten Dancers 2)

“I’m not that bad.” I am totally that bad. It’s not like my parents are paying for college, though. My school has this thing where, once you hit 12 credit hours, any additional ones are free.

You’d be crazy not to take advantage of that. I’ve taken at least 15-21 credits every semester of college until this one.

This semester, I’m slowing down a little.

“Aren’t you going to graduate a year early, anyway?”

“A semester early,” I admit. “Or I can double major in something and graduate on time. I haven’t really decided yet.”

“So have you just been too busy to see James?” Bailey asks, twirling her straw in her drink. “Or are you scared?”

“I’m not scared.”

“You seem scared.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I’ve known you a long time, Kasey. You don’t really commit to guys.”

Before I snap at Bailey that I’m not scared of commitment, I take a second to think about what she’s saying, what she’s actually saying, and part of me feels a little surprised, a little hurt.

The saddest part is that I know she’s right. In the time Bailey and I were living together, I never dated anyone seriously. I was too focused on school and work and dancing. James really caught me off guard because he’s the first guy I’ve even considered dating long-term.

That’s a little scary.

“Well, maybe you can give me some advice when you finish moving out,” I say, feigning a smile. She’s moving in with Cooper now. She’s been staying at his place for awhile anyway, but now that they’re married and everything’s official, she’s going to be moving in with him for real.

“I know. I really should finish moving out, shouldn’t I?”

“You really should. Your boxes are everywhere, and I need to find myself a new roommate, after all,” only admitting this makes me a little sad, and she can tell.

“You could move into a different place,” Bailey says quietly. She means a place that isn’t filled with memories of me and Bailey.

“What? And miss out on our pool?” I scoff, but the reality is that Bailey is, as always, completely right. I should move. I should find myself a nice, cheap little studio and just go live there. The idea of being in a new place freaks me out, especially being on my own.

“You could move in with James,” Bailey suggests.

“Um, no offense, but it seems a little early.”

“He’s been thinking about getting a roommate.”

“Strictly platonic?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, right. Is anything ever strictly platonic with guys like him?”

“Speak of the devil,” I say, looking at the front doors of the restaurant. Cooper and James are walking in. Their eyes roam around the room, scanning for us. I can tell the second James sees me because he doesn’t say a damn thing to Coop. He just starts heading straight toward me, burning me up with his steely gaze.

“Oh, did I forget to mention?” Bailey takes another sip of her virgin daiquiri. She’s not old enough to drink “for real” yet. “I invited them.”

“You bitch,” I say, but there’s no heat in my voice. Bailey just laughs. She knows how excited I am to see James. I haven’t actually seen him in person since our “date” after Bailey and Cooper’s wedding, but the two of us have talked on the phone almost every night.

How old school is that? Talking on the phone?

It seems kind of strange, honestly, but it’s also a little bit perfect. I love the way he’s so classic in his approach to dating. He calls me on the phone and we talk for hours. It reminds me of old movies I used to watch in black and white.

Then again, he’s not really talking to me about my day.

That’s not what James does when he calls me.